Wondering what everyones thought on this topic is, I am looking at options for next year, We would like to know who or should I say what states give the best brakes for Disabled Veterans? It would have to be country living.

Any of the states that offer 100% property tax exemptions for 100% disabled vets would be good. PA has VERY high property taxes and offer such a benefit (can save you upwards of 10K/year) and many areas in PA are fairly low on the cost of living scale. The area around Lancaster PA is fairly cheap and fairly close to major cities like philly, balt, NY, etc. The area itself is fairly rural, but there is a lot of new development and you can get a really nice home for around 250K (2K+ sqft, new with .5 acres or better).

You can probably find cheaper homes in the midwest/south, but you have to deal with lesser education opportunities and lower income scales for your family, so it evens out.....

Currently, I'm in WA state and the benefits are kinda crappy, but I'm finishing school at the moment and have three young kids who will be in college in the next 7-10 years and WA just passed a bill that waves 100% of tuition costs (up to a bach) for 100% vets (PT), plus I can still collect the ch 35 beneifits with the free tuition, which makes this state a decent one for me (plus I LOVE the area).

We almost moved to PA before coming ehre though due to the lower cost of living and tax exemption.....

I would vote for Colorado; the Denver VA has provided excellent service to the veterans I know. I live approximately 60 miles from Denver in a small mountain town.

The state of Colorado provides several veteran benefits.

Housing Benefits

Financial Assistance Benefits

Employment Benefits

Education Benefits

Other State Veteran Benefits

State Veterans' HomeAdmission preference is given to Veterans, spouses, widows and mothers at State Veterans Center, Homelake, CO. With 40 operating beds in the domiciliary unit and 60 beds in nursing care service.

State Veterans Nursing HomeThe Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home at Florence, CO with a bed capacity of 120 beds. Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home at Rifle, CO with a capacity of 100 beds. Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home at Walsenburg with a capacity of 120 beds. We have a new State Veterans Home. It is the Fitzimons State Veterans Home, located in Denver, CO. It has a capacity of 180 beds.

Colorado State Tax AdvantageSCR06-001 has passed and will be on the November ballot. It provides a Property Tax Exemption for 100% SC disabled veterans. Retired Military Pay: Members of the Armed Forces can exclude up to $20,000 in any one taxable year from their retirement pay.

Eligibility: U.S. Armed Forces Retiree.

Military Disability Retired Pay: Disability Portion - Length of Service Pay; Member on September 24, 1975 - No tax; Not Member on September 24, 1975 - Taxed, unless combat incurred. Retired Pay - Based solely on disability: Member on September 24, 1975 - No tax; Not Member on September 24, 1975 - Taxed, unless all pay based on disability and disability resulted from armed conflict, extra-hazardous service, simulated war, or an instrumentality of war.

VA Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: Not subject to federal or state taxes.

Motor Vehicle Tax: No fee shall be charged to certain disabled Veterans or Ex-POWs who have established their right to benefits under public laws. Applies to subsequent vehicles, but only one at a time.

Employment Preference Disabled Veterans shall have 10 points added to their grades and non-disabled Veterans shall be credited with an additional 5 points for "state employment". For city and county governments that have a "Merit System" in place.

Tuition Assistance Any member of the Colorado National Guard is eligible for state tuition assistance, up to 100% tuition paid at any CO state-funded school depending on funding available. State funding can be used in conjunction with Federal Tuition Assistance. Deadline for Spring Semester is Dec. 1. Deadline for Fall Semester is July 1. Summer deadline is May 1 (if funding is available).

Eligibility: Colorado National Guard member must serve 2 years for each year granted.

the best place to live is where you would be the happiest, given that it depends on circumstances here in SC 100% vets get free property tax, college tutition for kids state paid then they can still draw Chapter 35 benies on top, disabled plates for 2 vehicles disability and SSD is not taxable unless your spouse is working and brings it into play free hunting and fishing no pay parking meters and a lot of other benies, Geoegia has some geat deals to cost of living is cheap here in the country

If I moved I would look at Central Mexico, Panama or Margarita Island Venezuela Probably would go to Mexico cause I already have kin there.

This could only happen if Mrs Pete pre deceases me cause there is no way in hell that she would agree to it.

Right now Mexico will accept me as a Pensioner and I could bring my car and other valuables into the country tax free. The fee is 134 dollars a year. After 5 years they will allow you to become a citizen. Seems funny how easy it is for an American to be legal in Mexico.

Most Mexicans in Mexico hate our government but are very hospital to Americans.

Wondering what everyones thought on this topic is, I am looking at options for next year, We would like to know who or should I say what states give the best brakes for Disabled Veterans? It would have to be country living.

Macool

i have been doing some research on the same thing and found SC is a great place... Especially close to columbia and the military post... PX ,,, cheap movies... good state bennies... good housing prices... i am looking at an area called Lugoff SC ... a good place to find info is a web site called City-data click on there....i presently live in the Philippines... its so so ....

check out West Columbia and Pelion or Red Bluff the last 2 are more country I live in Springdale/West Columbia there is Ft Jackson and Shaw AFB within driving range I will be honest though Dorn VA sux I use the VA Hospital in Augusta Ga it's only about an hour away and they treat vets decent there I wouldn't take a family pet to Dorn

I currently live in southern California, but was born and bred in South Carolina. The cost of living here in CA is INSANE so I'm looking at moving back to SC. I miss the southern hospitality and the fishing the most.
I have a question though. Since my claim is in the works here, would it be better to wait until everything gets resolved here in CA, or would I be able to pick up in SC where I left off at here in CA in regards to appointments and Social Security? I don't want a move to interrupt and/or prolong the process.

I currently live in southern California, but was born and bred in South Carolina. The cost of living here in CA is INSANE so I'm looking at moving back to SC. I miss the southern hospitality and the fishing the most. I have a question though. Since my claim is in the works here, would it be better to wait until everything gets resolved here in CA, or would I be able to pick up in SC where I left off at here in CA in regards to appointments and Social Security? I don't want a move to interrupt and/or prolong the process.

Kappa

it depends how long ago you filed, if it has been close to a year I would wait if you just filed to hell with it if you can afford it move now I ended up fighting with the VA for 5 years SSD was approved in 4 months go figure by the way I grew up in Riverside and left in 1973 when I joined the Army my parents are buried in Riverside one at Riverside National and the other on Arlington Ave...near Norco we moved to West Columbia so my new wife could be near her grand kids and I like it here widh I had a boat so I could go to the lake but hell we all have wants lol Lake Murray is quiet during the week week ends are crazy though if you come this way give a shout I am home most of the time hell all of the time

I currently live in southern California, but was born and bred in South Carolina. The cost of living here in CA is INSANE so I'm looking at moving back to SC. I miss the southern hospitality and the fishing the most. I have a question though. Since my claim is in the works here, would it be better to wait until everything gets resolved here in CA, or would I be able to pick up in SC where I left off at here in CA in regards to appointments and Social Security? I don't want a move to interrupt and/or prolong the process.

Kappa

You could be fighting the system for years.don,t hold up on anything waiting for the VA you could end up wasting half your life. Move to where your going to happy .

Rick- of course I think-since we are both in the same locale- that we live in the most beautiful state in the nation-

then again-I am rural-dont know how rural you are- and there are plenty of vets here in the hills- away from the rigamorale-
Cohocton only has one blinking light and the only other traffic light I get to is at the turn off to the Bath VA-

If I go to Hornell city -I get culture shock- they have what 3-4 lights there?

Does Hornell have the veterans tproperty tax exemption like we have in Cohocton?

We have three vets exemptions but the vet picks two-if they are eligible-
one for all vets, one for disabled bu service, and one for wartime service-whether or not disabled-
also widows get them-I get 2-based on Rods servive and VA comp-

Another thing- the windmills people have just gotten permission to put up the windmills and the transmission lines-I leased a small swath of an old alfalha field for the transmission poles-high up on my land-

yesterday the town board sent out info that the windmill company is putting 1 half million into the town coffers -our taxes will apparently be reduced and the entire effort is quaranteed to attract more business revenue to the village-and to create jobs-

Is it possible that -since Hornell is part of the overall transmissions line plan I think-(although I dont know what part- just the high altitude areas)that there is talk in Hornell as to how it could benefit you and everyone else there?

I feel bad that a New Yorker is considering moving from NY-
but I do understand we have to go where we can be happy-
and there is the factor of SNOW!

I had to dig through a six foot high drift once to get to my livestock in the barn-and once I could not even see my car because it was completely covered with snow-

then again -it is the snow that helps the farmers in the springtime and it replenishes our wells and water tables-so we boonie people sure depend on it.

AS someone has already stated it really depends on what makes you happy, and what your looking for.

I lived in NC for years but the state offers no tax exemptions to veterans, and the cost of living can be high depending on what part of the state you live in.

I lived in Killeen Texas from Dec 03- Oct 05 I liked Texas, don't know why I left??? anyway Texas offers disabled veterans some property tax exemptions,which depends on the level of disability a veteran has( the higher the rating the higher the exemptions.

I stayed in SC from Oct 04- Dec 05... they have excellent benefits for veterans perhaps the best I have ever seen. We were planing on living in Columbia, but after looking for a home for two months (couldn't find a decent/ reasonable priced home we went to Augusta Georgia.

I Lived in Augusta (Hephzibah) Georgia from Dec 05-Aug07 I did not pay any taxes on my home, benefits were good. Va Hospital was one of the best I have every used. We just did not like Georgia.

I have just resettled in Texas, San Antonio. It is a much larger city than Killeen, and offers more options for medical care. Brooks medical center, Audie Murphy va medical center, and three seperate Air bases, Lackland, Brooks, and Randolph. We have been back, in the state since Aug and we are loving it. I am already looking for the forms to the exemptions of the new home we just closed on. Now I am close to my children and grandchildren and could not be happier.

Most states offer free tags, some offer education for children, some like Texas give free drivers licenses, and fishing licenses...

I would say don't look at the benefits first until you decide where you really want to be... I played the benefits game and believe me you will not be happy moving to a place based on the best benefits available.

I stayed in SC from Oct 04- Dec 05... they have excellent benefits for veterans perhaps the best I have ever seen. We were planing on living in Columbia, but after looking for a home for two months (couldn't find a decent/ reasonable priced home we went to Augusta Georgia.

RickB54, Testvet,

I have just started looking online for homes in Columbia (I'm originally from Orangeburg). What were some of the difficulties you encountered looking for a home, and is there anything I should be keeping an eye out for? Anyone else with info/advice please feel free to reply.

Nice to see you back. San Antonio is a lovely City. I think one of the four best vities to visit including, Boston, San Francisco and New Orleans till Katrina. I live in Dallas Texas and my Scholl and County taxes are frozen and my over all property tax is less than 1% of current market value. I buy my License plate for car for 3 bucks a year, free hunting and fishing license and can use the BX at the Naval Air Station in Ft Worth.

I still think that a disabled Veteran who does not work is better off buying in a rural county that is not to far from town.

But I think that you pointed out that the best place to live is around family. I live within 22 miles of all my sons and my 2 grand daughters.